Incubator and brooder.



L. J. ISENHOUR.

INGUBATOR AND BROODBR.

APPLICATION IILED JULY 17, 1911,

1 ,048,8 1 3, Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

2 sums-$112M 1.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rl: Iblllflll WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEY.

LUTHER J. ISENHOUR, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

INCUBATOR AND BROODER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

Application filed July 17, 1911. Serial No. 638,994.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER J. ISENHOUR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Incubator and Brooder, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to an article that is adapted to be used, eitheras an incubator, or as a brooder, and qualified for performing thefunctions of both an incubator and brooder at one and the same time, theinvention having reference particularly to portable apparatus of theabove mentioned character so constructed as to be adapted to becompactly shipped from the factory and to be readily handled by theuser.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of incubatorsand brooders with the purpose of attaining the highest efficiency inoperation, and to provide a durable and economical incubator and brooderthat will be adapted to be conveniently used, either in-doors, or out inthe open, as may be most desired in view of the atmospheric conditions.

With the above mentioned and minor objects in view, the inventionconsists in the novel details of construction in incubators andbrooders, and certain parts and combinations and arrangements of partsas hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in theaccompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvedincubator and brooder; Fig. 2, a fragmentary horizontal section on theline A A in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line B B in Fig.1; Fig. i, a fragmentary section on the line C C in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 afragmentary section on the line D D in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a verticalcentral section on the line E E in Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a fragmentarysectional perspective of an improved radiator; Fig. 8, an inverted planminus the lamp; Fig. 9, a perspective view of a part of the heatregulator inverted; and Fig. 10, an inverted plan view of the coverportion of the incubator and brooder.

Similar reference characters in the different figures of the drawingsindicate like elements or features of construction herein referred to.

As preferably constructed, the main por tion of the housing or inclosurecomprises a cylindrical metallic wall or shell 1 having a reinforcingband 2 on the lower end thereof which is formed by turning over themetal, the housing having no floor or bottom in its lower end, the upperend of the wall having a similar' reinforcing band 3 thereon. The wallhas an annular ledge 4 secured to the inner side thereof at a suitabledistance above the lower end of the wall, and an apertured or open workelevated floor 5 preferably composed of wire netting is secured upon theledge, and has a central aperture 6 therein, an annular guide ring 7being secured upon the floor and extending about the opening for keepingin place a trap door 8 preferably composed of wire netting which extendsacross the central opening in the floor. A socket 9 is secured upon thefloor adjacent the guide ring and supports a thermometer 10 which isslightly inclined both longitudinally and trans versely and is suitablysupported so as to be adjusted rotatably in the socket in order to bebrought into the best light coming through the cover. An annular innerwall 11 composed of sheet metal is secured upon the floor 5concentrically with the wall 1, and it has an inner lining 12 preferablycomposed of tar board or building paper, or similar material that is anon-conductor of heat. An annular shield 13 is secured to the under sideof the floor 5 below the wall 11 for assisting to induce the air toascend between the walls 1 and 11 in relatively cool weather, but insome cases may be omitted when the appliance is used in relatively warmclimates. A lining 14; of non-conducting material, such as tar board orbuilding paper, is placed upon the floor 5 against the inner side of thewall 1 and extends to the upper end of the wall.

An improved heat radiator is provided in the form of an annular waterchamber and it comprises an outer wall 15, an inner wall 16, a narrowbottom 17 and a narrow top 18, the side walls being spaced at relativelyshort distance apart, and the outer wall is placed against the innerside of the lining 1 1 so as to prevent outward radiation of the heat.The radiator is connected with the wall 1 by means of a supporting pin19 and is otherwise supported as will further appear. A radiating tube20 is connected with diametrically opposite portions of the inner wall16 of the radiator so that it extends above the floor 5, for assistingto distribute the heat in the interior of the housing. tube or duct 21is connected to the outer wall 15 of the radiator and assists insupporting the radiator, the tube being inserted in a slot 22 cut intothe shell 1 and closed by a plate 23. A suitable water heater isconnected to the tube 21. and preferably comprises a cylindrical shell24 provided with a top 25 and a conically shaped bottom 26, the middleportion of the bottom being secured to the top, both top and bottomhaving a central opening 27 therein. A filling tube 28 is connected tothe top 25 and provided with a cap 29. A valve 30 provided with anoperating stem 31 is adapted to close the opening 27 and may be raisedmore or less to permit/the escape of heat through the opening, the heatbeing derived from a suitable lamp comprising a reservoir 32 and aburner 33 arranged below the bottom 26 of the water heater.

A metallic bracket 34 is secured to the inner lower portion of the wall1 where the latter is not materially affected by changes of temperature,and it has a pillar 35 formed integrally thereon and extending upwardthrough the floor 5, the upper portion of the pillar having a plug 36secured therein. A suitable thermostatic device is provided forautomatically regulating the heat in the housing and it preferablycomprises a corrugated disk 37 provided with a supporting stem 38 whichis screwed into the plug 36, a disk 39 secured to the disk 37, and twosimilar disks 40 and 41 are secured together, the disk 40 being securedto the disk 30 and the uppermost disk 41 having a central bearingprojection 42 there on. A tubular journal bearing 43 extends through andis secured to the walls 15 and 16 of the radiator, the journal bearingextending through the water space of the radiator and also through thewalls 1 and 11 and their linings and it supports a rock shaft 44 whichextends therethrough, and has a crank arm 45 on its inner end providedwith a crank handle or pin 46 that extends onto the projection 42. Thewall 1 has a slot 47 therein to receive the ground bearing 43 and isclosed by a plate 48. An arm head is provided whereby to regulate thevalve 30, and it preferably comprises two side plates 49 and 49 securedto the outer end of the shaft 44 and an integral top 50, and preferablyalso a bottom portion 51 at one end thereof. An arm 52 is arrangedbetween the side plates 49 and 49 and extends above the shaft 44 and thebottom portion 51 toward the opposite end portions of the side plates,and it has a'crook 53 thereon from which extends a return portion 54provided with a collar 55 which rotatably embraces the shaft 44 beneaththe main portion of the arm 52, said arm extending to the operating stem31 and having an eye 56 thereon connected to a similar eye with whichthe stem is provided. An adjusting screw 57 is inserted in the top 50 ofthe arm head and is in contact with the arm 52 for adjusting the armrelative to the arm head, another adjusting screw 58 preferably beinginserted in the bottom portion 51 and extending into contact with theopposite side of the arm 52 for assisting to hold the arm firmly inadjusted position, and it will be understoodthat in some cases eitherone of the adjusting screws may be omitted. The arm head extendsrearward from the valve 30 beyond the shaft 44 so as to partiallycounterbalance the valve and its operating arm 52.

A portion of the wall 1 has a doorway 59 therein immediately above thereinforcing band 2 and is closed by means of two adjacent curtains 60and 60 and a central curtain 61 adapted to close the joint between theother two curtains, the curtains preferably being composed of oil clothor suitable fabric so that the little chicks may push them aside andpass through the doorway, the upper portions of the curtains or flexibledoors being secured to the wall by a plate 62.

The cover of the housing comprises a disk 63 having a cylindrical rim 64thereon adapted to pass over the reinforcing band 3 of the wall 1, theedge of the rim having an outwardly extending stiffening flange 65thereon adapted to be used as a hand-hold for lifting the cover. Thecover has a central aperture 66 therein which is closed by 68 that issoldered or otherwise secured to I the cover, a stem 69 and a finger 70provided with a point 71,, there being a suitable nurnber of clipsemployed which secure a suit able number of annular linings 72, 73, 74,placed together and against the inner side of the cover for preventingradiation of heat, tar board or the like being suit-able for use intheir formation. The lining of the lid rests upon the upper end of thewall 1 and its lining 14 so as to form a practically tight joint.

In practical use the cover is removed from the wall of the housing andthe eggs are placed upon the floor 5, and the heating lamp being inoperation heats'the water which is contained in the radiator and theheater above the lamp, the cover being replaced to retain the heat uponthe eggs. The attendant may look through the glass plate 67 and observethe thermometer so as to ascertain the temperature near the eggs, and ifdesired the valve 30 may be manually adjusted by means of the screws 57and 58 so' to open the valve more or less or to close it so as toregulate the passage of heat through the opening 27 or to prevent theescape of heat therethrough. Having obtained the desired temperaturerequired for incubating purposes the temperature usually isautomatically regulated by means of the thermostatic device actuatingthe rock shaft 44 and the arm 52, but in some cases readjustment of thearm relative to the arm head may be required, which can. be done withoutdisturbing the temperature in the incubator. The lower portion of thehousing below the floor 5 conveniently serves as a brooder and protectsthe little chicks from the elements in a warm atmosphere, and thedoorway permits them to pass out and return at pleasure while thecurtains exclude cold air, when they are housed within.

The temperature cont-rolling means and related structures illustratedand described as being advantageously connected with the main structureof the incubator and brooder, but not herein claimed, form thesubjectmat-tcr of the claims in my co-pending application for LettersPatent, filed April 22, 1912, Serial Number 692,400.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. An incubator and brooder including an outer wall, an apertured floorsecured in elevated position to the inner side of the wall, an innerwall secured upon the floor, a hollow radiator at the inner side of theouter wall and having a tube connected thereto that extends through thewall, a

heater connected to the tube, a shield sccured to the under side of thefloor under the inner wall, and a cover on the outer wall.

2. An incubator and brooder including an outer wall having a slot in theupper portion thereof, a floor having openings therein 5 and secured inelevated position to the inner side of'the wall, an inner wall securedupon the floor, a hollow radiator extending between the two walls andabove the plane of the top of the inner wall and having a tube connectedthereto that extends through the slot, a heater connected to the tube,and a cover on the outer wall.

3. An incubator and brooder including an annular outer wall and a ledgeon the inner side of the wall, an apertured floor secured upon theledge, an inner wall secured upon the floor and extending upward to aless height than the outer wall, an annular hollow radiator supportedbetween the outer wall and the inner wall at a distance from the innerwall and having a tube connected thereto that extends through the outerwall,

a heater connected to the tube, and a cover on the outer wall.

4. An incubator and brooder including an under side of the [loor underthe inner wall, 7

an annular hollow radiator supported against the lining and having atube thereon extending through the lining and the outer wall, a heaterconnected to the tube, and a cover on the outer wall.

5. An incubator and brooder including an outer wall, an apertured floorsecured to the inner side of the wall, a relatively low inner wallsecured upon the floor, a hollow radiator secured at the inner side ofthe outer wall and having a radiating tube connected with oppositeportions thereof, the tube extending above the floor and the inner wall,a tubular duct connected to the radiator and extending through the outerwall, a heater connected to the duct, and a cover on the outer wall.

6. An incubator and brooder including an outer wall, a hollow radiatorat the inner side of the wall, a cover on the wall, a tubular ductconnected to the radiator, an annular heater connected to the duct, areticulate floor secured to the inner side of the wall, a tubularjournal bearing extending through and secured to the radiator andextending through the wall above the floor, a rock shaft mounted in thejournal bearing and having a crank arm on the inner end thereof, acontrolling arm connected to the outer end of the rock-shaft, a valvecarried by the controlling arm above the opening of the annular heater,a support secured to the wall and extending through the floor, and athermostatic device mounted on the support above the floor in connectionwith the crank arm.

7. An incubator and brooder including an outer wall, an open-work floorsecured to the inner side of the wall and having a central aperturetherein, a guide ring secured upon the floor and extending about theaperture, a trap door removably seated on the floor within the guidering, an inner wall secured upon the floor, a hollow radiator supportedabove the floor at the inner side of the outer wall, a heater connectedwith the radiator, and a cover on the outer wall.

8. An incubator and brooder including an outer wall, an apertured floorsecured to the inner side of the wall, a fibrous lining at the innerside of the wall extending from the floor to the upper end of the wall,a hollow radiator at the inner side of the lining above the floor andhaving a tube connected thereto that extends through the wall and thelining, the radiator having also a supporting pin secured thereto thatextends through opposite portions of the wall and the lining, a

&

cover seated removably upon the top of said outer wall and its lining,said cover having a rim thereon extending about said wall and providedwith an outward extending flange, a heater connected to said tube, and awall secured upon said floor at a distance inward from said radiator andhaving a fibrous lining on the inner side thereof.

9. In an incubator and brooder, the combination of an outer wall havinga doorway, a floor secured to the wall above the lower end thereof andhaving a central aperture therein, a bracket secured to the inner sideof the wall below the floor and having a pillar thereon that extendsthrough the floor, a thermostatic device mounted upon the pillar abovethe floor, a hollow radiator supported above the floor at the inner sideof the wall and having a tube connected thereto that extends through thewall, a heater connected to the tube, a wall secured upon the floor andextending about the thermostatic de vice, and a cover on the outer walland having a fibrous lining secured thereto.

10. In an incubator and brooder, the combination of an outer wall, anapertured floor secured to the inner side of the wall in a plane abovethe lower end thereof, a relatively low continuous inner wall securedupon the floor at a distance from the outer wall, a hollow radiatorsupported between the outer wall and the inner wall against the outerwall and having a duct connected thereto that extends through the outerwall, a radiating tube connected to two opposite portions of theradiator and extending over the floor and the inner wall, a heaterconnected to duct, an impertorate continuous shield supported under thefloor and constituting a continuation of the inner wall extendingdownward relatively near to the plane of the lower end of the outerwall, and a cover on the outer wall.

11. An incubator and brooder including an inclosing wall, a floorsupported by the wall, a hollow radiator supported above the flooradjacent the wall, a duct connected to the radiator and extendingthrough the wall, a heater connected to the duct, a regulating valve forthe heater, a bracket secured to the wall below the'floor and having apillar thereon extending upward through the floor, a thermostatic devicesupported on the pillar, a journal-bearing secured to the radiato-r andextending therethrough and through the inclosing wall, a rock-shaftmounted in the journal-bearing and having a crank arm on the inner endthereof in contact with the thermostatic device, and a device adjustablyconnected with the outer end of the rock-shaft and connected also withthe regulating valve.

12. An incubator and brooder including an inclosing wall having abracket on the inner side thereof, an apertured floor supported by thewall above the bracket, a pillar supported by the bracket and extendingthrough the floor, a thermostatic device mounted upon the pillar abovethe floor, a supported journal bearing extending through the wall, aradiator supported above the floor, a heater arranged externally to thewall and connected with the radiator, a regulating valve for the heater,a rock-shaft mounted in the journal-bearing and having a crank arm onthe inner end thereof in contact with the thermostatic device, and anarm mounted on the outer end of rock-shaft and connected with theregulating valve.

In testimony whereof, I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LUTHER J. ISENHOUR.

WVitnesses EDWIN S'rnnns, E. T. Srnvros.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

